Letters Home from a Yankee Doughboy 1916-1919

For the men of the 52nd Brigade, the St. Mihiel Offensive began on September 12 with an artillery preparation commencing at 0100 hours. The 103rd Infantry went over the top at 0800 hours following a rolling barrage. From the time of its initial attack, the entire 52nd Brigade was faced with heavy opposition from enemy machine gun fire while moving across terrain that provided little cover but ample obstacles in the form of dense woods and wire.

By nightfall, the 103rd had reached its objective of capturing enemy trenches southwest of Chanot Bois, but advance patrols were driven back from Dommartin by enemy machine gun fire. At midnight orders were received to resume the attack and capture St. Maurice by daybreak…